Devastation Strikes Rangwa as Landslide Claims Lives in Homa Bay

Pain and unrest have descended upon Rangwa Sub Location in Kaksingri West, Homa Bay County, following a catastrophic landslide that tragically claimed the lives of four residents. The ongoing rains, wreaking havoc across the country, have brought about this devastating incident.

Shocked residents found themselves grappling with heavy floods in the village, even though it had not rained that day. The deluge triggered massive landslides, sending torrents of water and heavy rocks cascading onto the homes of the villagers.

Addressing the media, Rose Atieno, the Assistant Chief of Rangwa Sub Location, reported that the flood had affected 100 homes, with 10 of them completely washed away.

"The floods caused by the landslide have ravaged a total of 100 homes, completely destroying 10 of them, which were buried under the rocks or swept away by the flood," stated the Assistant Chief.

Furthermore, the Assistant Chief sadly informed the public that the disaster had claimed the lives of four individuals, including a woman and three children from the same mother. The search efforts are ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the flood damage and if more people were affected.

"Regrettably, we have lost four lives in this incident—a woman and three children born to the same mother. We are continuing the search to determine if additional individuals have been affected," added the Assistant Chief.

Benter Anyango, one of the victims of this tragedy, experienced the heartbreaking loss of her three children, who were swept away by the raging water, while her husband remains in critical condition.

Recalling the incident, Benter shared that she was engaged in tilling the land at a nearby home when she received news of the flood. She immediately rushed to find her young children, but upon reaching her compound, she was met with the devastating sight of her home in ruins and her children's lives tragically lost.

"As soon as I saw the floods, I hurried home to check on my family. However, before I reached home, I came across the lifeless body of my five-year-old child. After searching further, I discovered the bodies of the other two," Benter tearfully recounted.

John Onyango Odayo, another resident affected by the calamity, shared his harrowing experience of the floodwaters sweeping through his home, leaving him bereft of all his earthly possessions and homeless, while also discovering a lifeless body in his house.

"I was shocked to find the body of a child who had been swept away by the flood in my home. The floods have also taken away all my belongings, leaving me homeless with nothing to call my own," lamented Odayo.

The bodies of the four victims have been taken to Sindo Sub-County Hospital for postmortem examinations, while the injured man has been rushed to Kisii for medical treatment.